A Syrian family who took refuge in the northeastern town of Mafraq are seen during a recent interview (Photo by Khaled Oudat )
MAFRAQ – Although aware of the hardships they would face, a desire to live in peace and security has prompted many Syrians to flee violence in their country and seek refuge in Jordan.
“I left my house, I left my belongings with no idea of what will become of them, in search of security for my family,” said Fatima (not her real name), a Syrian woman interviewed by The Jordan Times in Mafraq earlier this week.
Living in a room with her two married sons and their families, the 50-year-old woman said she now depends on the assistance of local societies in Mafraq.
“I have nothing now, but this is better than seeing children and elderly people being killed for no reason other than that they are asking for freedom,” said Fatima, who arrived in Mafraq 20 days ago from Homs, the epicentre of the unrest where many people have been killed.
Describing the situation in Homs, the 50-year-old said she was pushed to run away from her own town after seeing two of her son’s friends killed by “thugs”.
“They were 17 year olds, and they were sitting peacefully… I don’t want my family to face the same fate. I want to go back to my country but to live with dignity, not fear,” said Fatima, who refused to give her real name out of fear of being identified.
She and her family are among the hundreds of Syrian families who have arrived in Jordan over the past three months, fleeing the violence in Syria that some openly referred to as “war”.